The Rs 24.42-crore sewerage project in Nurmahal has become a headache for the residents of the town and its adjoining villages.

The project, the foundation stone of which was laid by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in February 2011, was expected to complete in nine months as per the schedule.

The 6-km main sewerage line and 31-km branch line were to be laid across the town under the scheme.The project, which was started by the Grater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) and allotted to private agencies, is going at a snail’s pace.

But only 80 percent of the lines have been laid so far. GLADA executive engineer Bhupinder Chawla said t he main reason behind the work lagging behind was due some councillors’ opposition to the laying of sewerage lines.

He said they had demanded that the treatment plant should be constructed first.

Over one and half acre land had been acquired on Nurmahal Kot Badal Khan road for the sewerage treatment plant and land was registered in the department’s name and the work would begin within 10 days, he added.Chawla said that laying of main sewerage line would be completed in few days. The ongoing work has become a headache for the residents of Bhallowal and Dalla villages as they take detour while coming to Nurmahal town.

In Nurmahal town, trenches dug for laying sewerage lines have been filled but roads are still to be repaired.

Mandi road and Nakodar road are muddy and full of potholes. Residents have repeatedly demanded to get the roads paved but to no avail.

Hundreds of residents of adjoining Nakodar and Shahkot towns commute on these roads everyday, which have not been re-car peted despite re peated reminders to the authorities concerned.

Nurmahal executive officer Rajiv Oberoi said the stretches would be repaired by the public works department. He said the nagar council had repaired some of the roads even as the GLADA did not release any funds for repair.

Residents have been demanding that the laying of sewerage lines should be accelerated and the work should be completed at the earliest.